Question: How do I determine if I can safely upgrade a 15amp circuit breaker to 20amp without overloading the wires?
I’m almost done moving our home office to a corner of the house that has only one utility box to a 15amp circuit breaker. The total amperage for everything (fax, computer, etc.), being set up is 22-25amp (way too much for that breaker and outlets, of course).
Presently, there are 15amp breakers across the board. I would like to upgrade two breakers to 20amp to split the power and install two outlets on that same wall to distribute the power in a safer way.
Answer: You cannot change the tripping amperage of the breaker. 14-gauge wire is for a maximum of 15 amps. 12-gauge wire is needed for a 20-amp breaker.
Additional information on wire gauges and circuit breaker sizes.
------------------------
- LED/Incandescent Christmas Tree Lights
- Wiring An Electric Hot Water Tank
- High & Low Voltage Cables
- Flatwire
- Two Wires On A Breaker
- Grounding Rods & Standby Generators
- Fuse Panel Replacement
- Fuse Keeps Blowing
- Identifying Electrical Circuits
- Noisy Dimmer Switch
- Broken Bulb Socket
- CAT-5 Plenum versus Standard Cable
- Dead Batteries In Smoke Detectors
- Garbage Disposal Switches
- Painting Outdoor Breaker Panels & Meters
- How Does Smart Electrical Meter Work?
- Preventing Power Failure
- Intermittent Electrical Receptacles
- Flickering Lights
- Wiring a Light
- Changing Fuses to Beakers
- Breaker Tripping - Light Switch Is Turned On?
- 12/2 Wire On A 15 Amp Breaker
- Fuse To Circuit Panel Upgrade
- Upgrading An Electrical Service
- Change Circuit Breaker Or Split Power?
- Faulty Ceiling Fan Remote Control